In California, 2021 legislation expanded transitional kindergarten (TK) to be universal for all 4-year-olds by 2025-26. This expansion will require an additional 11,900 to 15,600 credentialed teachers. Given projected workforce needs and historic investments in teacher preparation, early childhood-focused residencies can help districts…

This study examines two longstanding but thinly evidenced claims regarding credentialing requirements for teachers in the early grades (pre-K, K, 1, 2, and 3): 1) that elementary education (ELED) educator standards, under which many U.S. early grade teachers are prepared, address early instructional practices less adequately than early childhood…

Stories about the importance of teacher effectiveness for student achievement are currently ubiquitous in the media (Gladwell 2008; Kristoff 2009; Felch et al 2010). Teacher quality is also the focus of significant national efforts and investments. A growing body of quantitative research supports the focus on teacher and teacher effectiveness.…